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Preventing Depression-Related Suicide

Separate the Myths from the Facts

20 Comments

I've struggled with depression and anxiety most of my life. I'm actually going through a really bad spell of it now. I was just put back on medication. I'm so extremely fortunate to have a husband who understands depression and helps me through the worst moments. When I told him I thing I had to go back on the medication (I'd been okay for the last 9 years without it My last really dark time was in college). He said he wanted to go with me to the dr. So we both went, discussed the side effects I may experience The dr put me on the same medication that I was on before that we know I responded well to. My husband checks in with me every morning to see how I'm doing and I can tell him which days are hard and when I'm a bit better. I know he's watching me for any signs of hurting myself. I don't plan on it or think about it. Despite the way I feel, I know I will get through this spell of depression and feel okay in awhile. I think what helps me most. Is that I'm honest about it and that I have someone to be honest with. He knows it isn't him. He knows it isn't us. Its just something that is apart of me.

Here are a few observations from my perspective as a survivor: 1) antidepressants are to be avoided. This is purely anecdotal, mind you, but that dope changes people's personalities, and never for the better. 2) People that mean business rarely mess around with "failed attempts" and inadequate methods. I know people don't like to hear this, but I think the numbers back me up. The highest rate of suicide isn't among melodramatic women or bullied teenagers - it's middle aged men who don't screw around with pills. 3) The befuddled psychiatric and "helper" classes need to stop yapping so much about prevention. Realistically, I think the notion that you can stop someone if you just say and do the right things is not only inaccurate, but immensely painful for survivors everywhere. Every time some fekakte celebrity offs themselves (Thanks, Robin Williams), the media goes bat$hit with reams of articles and reports on suicide prevention. This comes from fear, I think. People are afraid of suicide, and they find it comforting to convince themselves that they can stop someone if they've made up their minds about it.

I have attempted suicide in the past and been hospitalized 5 times for it. I've undergone 30 E.C.T.'s (a.k.a shock therapy). There are three things I would like to mention and wish were in the article: 1) Sometimes the antidepressant itself will cause a person to have suicidal thoughts. This does not only happen in teens and young adults. It happened to me 2 years ago and I am in my forties. Nine months of suicidal urges and no one caught it for 9 months! 2) Don't be afraid of the hospital. It is the safest place to be when one is having these urges. Don't wait for someone else to notice your signs. If you are aware enough of what you are planning, please go to the ER. 3) Depression ALWAYS lifts eventually. There is a lighter day coming. You don't have to die. Love yourself enough to hold on. Love your family enough to hold on. And if you're religious, love God enough to hold on. There will be a day when you can take a full breath and be glad to be alive!!!! HOLD ON!!! We love you!

I have attempted suicide more than once. The first time I was still in grade school. I have scars because of it. I never take suicide lightly when someone talks about it. I know how it feels to have no one to turn to so I try to be that person. I'm just lucky that I sought out help after realizing what I was really doing. It's a very scary situation.

Thanks to GOD I never attempted Suicide, but I have struggled with Depression most of my life. But, GOD has saved my life, & made me find a reason to live. ASK GOD for help he is the ONE & ONLY One that could HELP ME OUT OF MY MISERY. Deb in Oregon.

In 2004, I attempted suicide. I didn't realize so many others were at the same broke place in their own lives. I just knew I could not make it through another day. However with a lot of intervention I am still here and still struggling along.

This article touched a real note in me. I have several family members or friends who have suffered from depression, and one even took his own life. It was 30 years ago, when people thought that talking about suicide was just a ploy to get attention. His family will regret, forever, that they didn't listen.

This artilce really hit home for me. My dad suffered from depression all his life, but he regused to get help for it. I really wish he did. He took his own life and never got to know his youngest grandson. If only he lived closer or we talked more, I keep playing over and over in my head what I could bave done, but I have to realize that none of this was my fault, he was sick.

Great article! Anyone (and everyone) can learn more about how to help prevent this most preventable cause of death in our country. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is at www.afsp.org for information, advocacy, research and survivor support. Check it out.

As a person who has thought seriously about suicide since the age of 16, I can say that this article hits the nail on the head. There are days when I can hardly get out of bed, but I struggle because I know it would destroy my siblings. The sad part is, I have planned my death and still have that plan, written up very neatly, just in case the pain gets too bad. Never ignore the signs. Never try to tell someone that killing themselves will make them go to hell; it doesn't work. If they want to go through with it, they will try. Just be there for them.

I usually ask anyone in that situation if they have a plan and what is it. If the answer is I don't know then you can relax a bit and steer the conversation to what is making them want to die. I wish I didn't know this. I used to have suicidal thoughts. But I rarely get them now, I started to not pay attention to them but Use them as a reason to ask myself what was bothering me. I'm so glad that is in the past for me.

This article is so true, although another bothersome myth that I heard was "if they were serious they wouldn't try stuff like pills, they would just get a gun so any attempts like that should be ignored". I attempted it numerous while suffering from undiagnosed bipolar and meant it regardless of the means. Ignoring the past attempts as attention seeking based on the method could also be dangerous.

It's interesting reading this from a more "outside" view. I honestly don't remember a day where I haven't thought about death or suicide. I don't mind though because the psychology of it is fascinating to me. I like analyzing myself from various viewpoints.

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